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The impact of shareholder intervention on overinvestment of free cash flow by overconfident CEOs

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  • Kwon, Sewon
  • Ahn, Jae Hwan
  • Kim, Gi H.

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of shareholder intervention on investment distortions, which we capture using overinvestment of free cash flow by overconfident CEOs. Using this definition and U.S. data for 1996–2014, our fixed effects and difference-in-difference matching estimation results provide consistent evidence that the threat of potential intervention of shareholders can curb overinvestment by overconfident CEOs. Specifically, firms with greater voting premium and hedge fund activism experience less overinvestment and exhibit lower sensitivity of free cash flow to investment. Such disciplining effects are stronger for firms managed by overconfident CEOs. Overall, our results suggest that shareholder intervention is particularly effective at mitigating overinvestment that is more likely to be distorted.

Suggested Citation

  • Kwon, Sewon & Ahn, Jae Hwan & Kim, Gi H., 2021. "The impact of shareholder intervention on overinvestment of free cash flow by overconfident CEOs," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finana:v:75:y:2021:i:c:s1057521921000934
    DOI: 10.1016/j.irfa.2021.101751
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Investment-cash flow sensitivity; CEO overconfidence; Free cash flow; Investment distortion; Shareholder intervention;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G3 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance
    • M4 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting

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